TrinidadandTobagoNews.com Reporters
January 04, 2009
Undefeated Trinidad and Tobago boxing champion, Giselle Salandy, died following a vehicular accident on the Beetham Highway, on the outskirts of Port of Spain, this morning, January 4th 2009. The 21 year old boxing sensation succumbed to her injuries at the Port of Spain General Hospital around 8.29 a.m. Reports state that Salandy was driving west into Port of Spain a little before 7 a.m. when she crashed into a concrete pillar upon reaching the National Petroleum (N.P.) overpass just before the Bhagwansingh turnoff. Miss Salandy and other occupant of the Toyota Yaris, national female footballer Tamar Watson were injured and both were rushed to hospital. Most recent reports indicate that Watson suffered two broken legs and is in a critical condition.
Salandy’s manager Boxu Potts reported that doctors at the medical facility tried everything possible to save her life but their attempts were futile.
Gary Hunt, the Minister of Sports described Salandy as an icon, a great contributor and a motivator. He also assured the public that the government of Trinidad and Tobago is prepared to pay for the boxer’s funeral.
Giselle Salandy receives the Chaconia Gold Medal in 2007
Born in Siparia on January 25, 1987 Salandy began boxing at the tender age of 11 under the tutelage of Kim Quashie and later Fitzroy Richards. Her exploits in the boxing ring brought great attention to the sport of boxing and earned her several awards including the Chaconia Gold Medal in 2007.
Giselle Salandy, T&T’s most successful female boxer, was the holder of eight international boxing titles including Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA), World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) titles, which she successfully defended in her last fight. This fight, which took place on Boxing Day against Dominican Republic’s Yahaira Hernandez, took her professional record to 17 wins and zero losses.
Condolences continue to pour in as the public and persons who knew her personally remember her for her contributions to Trinidad and Tobago.
Jizelle Salandy’s Send-Off
Hundreds of people turned up to the St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church in La Romaine to remember and bid farewell to the World Boxing Champion Jizelle Salandy. They came in buses, maxis and cars from all over Trinidad to pay their last respects…
Giselle’s fighting spirit and exuberance will surely be missed. We extend our deepest prayers and offering of peace to her family – she was a blessing and will continue to be remembered as a true champion for her people, with a spirit of defiance, we promise to match.
Truly a sad time for such a popular icon and young star.May your star shine bright and undefeated rest in peace!
Condolences to the family of the late Giselle, she will be missed, God will take of you, May she rest in peace
This is indeed sad news. My condolences to Gisselles’ family. Gone too soon another angel has entered Heaven. May her soul R.I.P.
THE NEWS WAS REALLY SAD WHEN I HEARD IT BUT U KNO THAT’S HOW IT GOES PEOPLE THAT DOES GREAT THINGS OR IS ALL FOR BETTERMENT OF THEMSELF AND THEIR COUNTRY, DON’T LAST LONG BUT SHE DID WELL WHILE SHE WAS ON THIS EARTH AND WILL BE MISSED DEARLY
Jesus came and took his Angel today. Gisselle now resides in Heaven. My condolences to Gisselles’ family. We would all meet one day again in heaven and what a glorious day that will be. R.I.P.
I pray God strengthens her family during this tragic loss. It is very unfortunate that a young rising star’s life has been senselessly snuffed out on the front door-steps of 2009. I pray her soul is at peace.
i’m so at a loss for words of the news that this star of the boxing world died at such a young age. i didn’t follow trini boxing but i followed her achievements. She made me feel proud. I so wanted that encounter between our own salandy and the amazing ALI…. i’m so deeply sadened at this loss for the begining of the year. 2009 isn’t looking so bright AGAIN
It is sad, really, that one so young, who had already began to etch her name into the hearts of her young and old country-foks was snatched away unceremoniously. A confirmation of the contradiction of life. Those with their meaningless lifestyles, survive forever, while one who held so much promise for the betterment of this nation in her chosen field of endeavour, got a first round T.K.O.
The country has lost an icon I am sure but the youths who held her up as a role model have been robbed of the positive influence she could have had on their lifestyles.
Gone too soon, indeed!
R.I.P. Positive daughter of T&T.
Giselle you will be missed, you were a star…
You seemed to have so much going for you. This is so sad. I am truly sorry.
I hope that we will all stop the senseless speeding on the roads of Trinidad and Tobago. This could have happened to anyone.
GISELLE YOU LEFT TOO SOON ,YOU WERE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE I HOPE YOU ARE IN HEAVEN WITH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST , MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE
i am so sad i was in shock icoundn’t believe she after seeing her a few days ago r.i.p slandy best in the the world.
Giselle leaves a terrible pain in our hearts. Women Boxing has lost a jewell of a Champion. May God receive her with his love. May God be with her family whom has suffered a horrific pain.
i truly am sorry to hear it,i was shocked when i found out,a young but great titan of trinidad & tobago is gone she will be missed.
I’M SO HEART BROKEN BY THE DEATH OF THIS FANTASTIC YOUNG STAR GISELLE SALANDY YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A CHAMPION, YOUR MEMORIES LIVE ON YOU’RE UN-DEFEATED …REST IN PEACE V.I.P
Giselle, I love you. A message to the Salandy’s Family, the loss of Giselle. Each one of us has had our own personal experience with a very “Special” person by the name of “Giselle Salandy”, whether it was related to boxing, hearing her voice, seeing her smile, or hearing her laughter. Giselle has “touched” our lives in a very “Special” way. She was still a child in my eyes, so very young…..To her Parents, Relatives & Friends….Though it’s difficult to express all the Sympathy that goes out to you at this time, hope you know how close you are in heart and thoughts today.>>>>>>>”I WILL LEND YOU FOR A LITTLE TIME A CHILD OF MINE”, “HE SAID, FOR YOU TO LOVE THE WHILE SHE LIVES & MOURN FOR WHEN SHE’S DEAD. IT MAY BE SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, OR TWENTY-ONE OR TWO, BUT WILL YOU, TILL I CALL HER BACK, TAKE CARE OF HER FOR ME? SHE’LL BRING HER CHARMS TO GLADDEN YOU, & SHALL HER STAY BE “BRIEF”, YOU’LL HAVE HER LOVELY MEMORIES AS SOLACE FOR YOUR GRIEF. I CANNOT PROMISE SHE WILL STAY, SINCE ALL FROM EARTH RETURN, BUT THERE ARE LESSONS TAUGHT DOWN THERE I WANT THIS CHILD TO LEARN. I HAVE LOOKED THE WIDE WORLD OVER IN MY SEARCH FOR TEACHERS TRUE & FROM THE THRONGS THAT CROWD LIFE’S LANES, I HAVE SELECTED YOU. NOW WILL YOU GIVE HER ALL YOUR LOVE, NOR THINK THE LABOR VAIN, NOR HATE ME WHEN I COME TO CALL TO TAKE HER BACK AGAIN?” I FANCIED THAT I HEARD THEM SAY: “DEAR LORD, THY WILL BE DONE! FOR ALL THE JOY THY CHILD SHALL BRING, THE RISK OF GRIEF WE’LL RUN. WE’LL SHELTER HER WITH TENDERNESS, WE’LL LOVE HER WHILE WE MAY, AND FOR THE HAPPINESS WE HAVE KNOWN FOREVER GRATEFUL STAY: BUT SHALL THE ANGELS CALL FOR HER MUCH SOONER THAN WE’VE PLANNED, WE’LL BRAVE THE BITTER GRIEF THAT COMES & TRY TO UNDERSTAND…….
It’s difficult to see such a young beautiful woman being robbed of her youth, life and future. This is the second in one week, stars of the nation facing the death mangroo. I can’t help but feel that the power and fame created this mirage of invincibility that these young people embraces that contributes to their demise. I hope god has taken her soul may she rest in peace. Condolences to her family.
So Sad To Hear Bright Young Star Die So Sudden (R.I.P)
Thisvis truly a dad ending to a young women who had just begun her carrer. Our deepest sympathey goes out to her family.
lenny Fresquez
It’s a sad thing to here. My condolences to her family
The Death of a Champ Giselle- is very tragic and my heart goes out to her family and friends. Any death of a love one is hard for those close but when it’s an Icon its leave a country and by extension a world to mourn. RIP Giselle- FOREVER MISSED, NEVER FORGOTTEN.
People of Trinidad and Tobago we need to be more careful on our roads and we need to look out for one another. ” Bring back the Old Time Days! ”
Truly shocking, will be missed dearly, she was an inspiration to young women. My condolences to the family.
she was a great inspiration to me an alot of young women of our country i will miss her an so will my nation miss salandy may u rest in peace the nation lost a star an a god got back his angel
This is trully shocking, she will be truly missed,
giselle salandy you will be truly miss, you are a inspiration may god be with you.
This is a real sad story…….I never met her personally but I’ve read about her and she deemed it fit to be a true icon….May her soul rest in eternal peace… My condolences to her fam, friends and well wishers…
and lets not forget the footballer Watson….for her too..life was shattered…I pray for her speed recovery and God Richests blessings on both families
It’s a sad day for any mother or father when they have to bury their son or daughter. Its also a sad day for the entire family, friends and supporters of Gisselle. May she rest in peace.
Giselle was truly a candle in the wind that has gone too soon. My heart goes out to her family and close friends. she will always be remembered.
What a tragedy! May her soul rest in peace
I am completely saddened by this news, I knew that Jizelle had a beautiful and caring heart, with such a promising future. I want to encourage the family to stay strong and I hope that they could find comfort in God at this time for he knows best.She would indeed be missed…..An angel gone too soon.